Interactive oral care implement system

Abstract

An oral care implement has a user-interactive display that displays images representing oral care regions of the mouth. The user can interact with the display by playing a game, which can relate to oral care. An oral care implement has a plurality of lighted segments that can be sequentially illuminated to indicate a recommended brushing sequence. The lighted segments can be shaped and/or labeled to indicate particular oral care regions of the mouth. In accordance with another aspect, an oral care implement can be equipped with features to encourage social interaction between two or more individuals.

We claim: 
     
       1. A kit comprising:
 a first toothbrush having a first display and a first user interface to facilitate interaction with the first display; 
 a second toothbrush having a second display and a second user interface to facilitate interaction with the second display; and 
 wherein the first toothbrush and the second toothbrush are adapted to communicate with each other by way of: (1) the first toothbrush receiving a signal generated and transmitted by the second toothbrush that selectively activates the first display; and (2) the second toothbrush receiving a signal generated and transmitted by the first toothbrush that selectively activates the second display. 
 
     
     
       2. The kit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second toothbrushes comprise a memory including computer readable instructions for operating a game. 
     
     
       3. The kit of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first and second toothbrushes includes a slot for receiving the memory therein. 
     
     
       4. The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising instructions for playing an interactive game with the first toothbrush and the second toothbrush. 
     
     
       5. The kit of  claim 4  wherein the first toothbrush and the second toothbrush are releasably joined to each other. 
     
     
       6. The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second toothbrushes are adapted to communicate with each other to present indications to users of the first and second toothbrushes according to rules of a game being played between the first and second toothbrushes. 
     
     
       7. A toothbrush, comprising:
 a head having cleaning elements; 
 a handle including control circuitry; 
 a display on the handle for illumination; 
 a user interface on the handle to receive input for the control circuitry; 
 the handle including communication circuitry coupled to the control circuitry, the communication circuitry comprising a receiver for receiving data from a second toothbrush and a transmitter for sending data from the toothbrush to the second toothbrush; and 
 wherein the display is selectively activated by data received from the second toothbrush. 
 
     
     
       8. The toothbrush of  claim 7 , further comprising a memory for storing instructions associated with an oral care game. 
     
     
       9. The toothbrush of  claim 8 , wherein the game includes data responsive to said second toothbrush. 
     
     
       10. The toothbrush of  claim 8 , further comprising an opening in the handle configured to receive said memory, and wherein said memory is removable from said toothbrush. 
     
     
       11. The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein the toothbrush and the second toothbrush are adapted to communicate with each other to present indications to users of the toothbrush and the second toothbrush according to rules of a game being played between the toothbrush and the second toothbrush.